Nigerian players were in fine form on Friday, 22 December, 2023, at the kick off of the Rome City Nigerian Open event in Lekki, Lagos State.
Many of the players, who participate in national and international tournaments, were at the very best at start of the three-day event holding inside the Italian International School, Lekki, Lagos State.
The competition is aimed at giving Nigerian players scholarships into the Rome City Institute, where they study abroad and also play tennis while at it.
Even though every participant automatically qualifies for part scholarship, the winners will be given more discounts on the offer as incentives for coming out tops at the competition.
Nigeria Tennis Live reports that the likes of Michael Nekepkemi, Joseph Fortune, Peter Ochei, Toyin Asogba, Sunmisola Okajare, Blessing Otu, among others, are participants at the competition.
Youngsters such as Terterma Ahenji, Ndidi Osaji, Tiffany Osho and Fareehah Adams were also in action in the first round of matches played on Friday.
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In Friday’s fixtures, Otu retired in her match against Asogba after going three games down. Asogba will now play another match against (Fareehah) Adams who was the better player in her tie against Osho. She won 6-2, 7-5.
The winner of that match will play against Osaji who was outstanding in her pair up against Semilore Majekodunmi. Osaji, one of Nigeria’s top junior players, defeated her opponent 6-2, 6-3.
Another top player, Okajare, got the better of Jasmine Osho in their first round tie, winning 6-0, 6-3, and has now set up a semifinal tie against Faith Ameh, who defeated Adesewa Olaniyan 6-1, 6-4 on Friday morning.
In the boys’ fixtures, top junior player, Joseph Fortune, proved too hot for Terterma, as he raced to a 6-0, 6-0 win against the Lagos Schools Invitational Tennis tournament winner.
Fortune will now play a highly competitive semifinal match against John Peter Ochei, who saw off Nekepkemi in another interesting fixture on Friday afternoon. Ochei won 6-3, 6-3.
Adakole Ikpati who defeated Moses Onehime 6-1, 6-1, is now in the semis where he will take on Monday Odeh who defeated Ibrahim John 6-0, 6-0 to advance.
The semi final matches will be decided today, Saturday 23 December, 2023, while the finale is billed to serve off by 1pm on Sunday, 24 December, 2023.